Redrawing Kirk's career timeline

[Jedi Marso]

This stems from a discussion in another thread, where it is mentioned in WNMHGB that Kirk claims to have known Mitchell for 15 years while at Delta Vega. According to established canon, Kirk is only 31-32 years old at this point, and Mitchell by necessity must be a few years younger than him (assuming he also entered the academy at age 18), so this becomes hard to reconcile. Also hard to reconcile is Kirk's rise to command a starship barely more than a decade after graduating from the academy.

So just for fun, I did a quick and dirty adjustment, moving Kirk's birthday back ten years and attempting to give his starfleet career some breathing room. Purely by mistake, it happened to make the '15-year' remark come out spot on the way I did it. It is shown below. I invite people to comment on it, and also to generate their own 'adjusted' timelines for Kirk's career. I didn't try to account for every known fact about James Kirk. Like I said, this was a quick and dirty first pass. It means Kirk would be 41 instead of 31 when assuming command of Enterprise, and that his youthful appearance is merely the benefit of 23rd Century living. He can still be the 'youngest man ever to rise to command of a starship.'

2223- James Kirk is born in Iowa

2240- Kirk enters starfleet academy at the age of 17.

2244- Kirk graduates starfleet academy and is assigned to USS Republic

2246- Kirk promoted to Lieutenant J.G. and reassigned to USS Farragut under Captain Garrovick.

2248- Kirk promoted to lieutenant.

2250- Lieutenant Kirk returns to Starfleet Academy for Command School and ancillary duty as an instructor. During his tenure, he meets Gary Mitchell and also gains some notoriety for cheating the “no-win” scenario.

2251- Lieutenant Kirk assigned as operations officer (Third in Command) of a scout class vessel.

2252- Lieutenant Kirk meritoriously promoted early to Lieutenant Commander, and assumes duties as first officer of his ship.

2256- LCDR Kirk receives early promotion to Commander, assumes command of USS Sacajawea.

2258- CDR Kirk assigned as first officer of USS Constitution. It is clear at this point that Kirk's rise through the ranks has been rapid, and he is now actively being groomed for eventual starship command.

2262- CDR Kirk promoted to Captain, and assumes command of USS Lydia Sutherland, with Gary Mitchell as his first officer.

2263- USS Lydia Sutherland destroyed during the Ghioghe Incident. Most of her crew is saved; Captain Kirk and First Officer Mitchell undergo extensive medical regeneration. Captain Kirk faces a court of inquiry over the loss of his command, and is cleared of any wrongdoing.

2264: Captain Kirk offered command of USS Enterprise.

2265: USS Enterprise begins a standard 5-year mission within the UFP Treaty Exploration Zone, and beyond. Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell is lost during an attempt to probe beyond the galaxy's edge. At this point, Kirk has known Gary Mitchell for 15 years.

 

[Duncan MacLeod]

I always simply assumed that Kirk and Mitchell first met before either joined Starfleet. You idea is interesting though and I could definitely go with it in a reboot, unfortunately The Deadly Years establishes Kirk as being 34 in season two precluding its use in the TOS timeline.

 

[Jedi Marso]

I always simply assumed that Kirk and Mitchell first met before either joined Starfleet. You idea is interesting though and I could definitely go with it in a reboot, unfortunately The Deadly Years establishes Kirk as being 34 in season two precluding its use in the TOS timeline.

Absolutely. My timeline is a re-imagining, just for fun. The canon is the canon.

 

[Noname Given]

If Kirk was 33 in season 1 of TOS, that just means he and Gary Mitchell met when they were 18.

The only thing stated was that they've known each other for 15 years as of TOS season 1.

 

[FormerLurker]

I personally have never thought Mitchell was years younger, not even 1 or 2, than Kirk. I've always thought they were contemporaries. Kirk is established as more ambitious, and with greater desire for advancement. He isn't a graduate teacher at the Academy, but a TA that has been given great leeway as an instructor. Mitchell never describes Kirk as "that teacher when I was a new cadet", but rather as someone who earned a reputation before Mitchell met him the first time.

As Kirk is supposed to have entered the Academy at 17, he and Mitchell could be the same age, with Mitchell starting at 18 and being a year behind Kirk. This makes much more sense to me regarding how long they've known each other.

 

[Phaser Two]

Not to impugn your work, which is strong, but why is it implausible that Mitchell is the same age as Kirk? He was after all the first officer (wasn't he? I always get details about Where No Man mixed up), or at worst the second officer aboard an important, prestigious Starfleet vessel, so it wasn't like he was a 32/33-YO guy doing Jefferies tube demagnetization on a tugboat.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Not to impugn your work, which is strong, but why is it implausible that Mitchell is the same age as Kirk?

It's not totally implausible. I'm just extrapolating based on what we heard about them and their relationship, and the fact that Mitchell is a lieutenant commander while Kirk is captain, and that Mitchell was a cadet when 'Lieutenant Kirk' was his instructor. It's also entirely possible that Mitchell is actually older than Kirk, having entered the academy after Kirk but later in his own life, say when he was in his 20's. Although Gary Lockwood is in fact about a half decade younger than Shatner, he actually sort of comes off as older in this episode.

In the timeline I created in the OP, I was rather smug about the way Kirk's time as an instructor dovetailed with him returning to the academy for command school, sort of like Lieutenant Saavik in TWOK.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I personally have never thought Mitchell was years younger, not even 1 or 2, than Kirk. I've always thought they were contemporaries. Kirk is established as more ambitious, and with greater desire for advancement. He isn't a graduate teacher at the Academy, but a TA that has been given great leeway as an instructor. Mitchell never describes Kirk as "that teacher when I was a new cadet", but rather as someone who earned a reputation before Mitchell met him the first time.

Kirk is an officer by the time Mitchell is at the Academy

MITCHELL: Well, I'm getting a chance to read some of that longhair stuff you like. Hey man, I remember you back at the Academy. A stack of books with legs. The first thing I ever heard from an upperclassman was, watch out for Lieutenant Kirk. In his class, you either think or sink.

Upperclassmen are warning Mitchell about an instructor who's known to be tough. This would imply that Mitchell is a lower classman and Kirk is a graduate who has returned to teach. Perhaps four or more years difference in their ages.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Another interesting idea is the thought that the loss of the Lydia Sutherland (only referred to in a novel, IIRC) affected Kirk deeply, that he took it personally, and it shaped him a bit in his obsessive stewardship of the Enterprise and her crew over the years. Like his line in "The Naked Now" when he looks around at her and says: "I'll never lose you!" There seems to be a passion there driven by something beyond what a normal captain would express, and I think the loss of a prior command would definitely generate that passion.

 

[Neopeius]

Kirk is an officer by the time Mitchell is at the Academy

Upperclassmen are warning Mitchell about an instructor who's known to be tough. This would imply that Mitchell is a lower classman and Kirk is a graduate who has returned to teach. Perhaps four or more years difference in their ages.

Indeed. Lockwood was 28.

 

[Phaser Two]

It's not totally implausible. I'm just extrapolating based on what we heard about them and their relationship, and the fact that Mitchell is a lieutenant commander while Kirk is captain, and that Mitchell was a cadet when 'Lieutenant Kirk' was his instructor. It's also entirely possible that Mitchell is actually older than Kirk, having entered the academy after Kirk but later in his own life, say when he was in his 20's. Although Gary Lockwood is in fact about a half decade younger than Shatner, he actually sort of comes off as older in this episode.

In the timeline I created in the OP, I was rather smug about the way Kirk's time as an instructor dovetailed with him returning to the academy for command school, sort of like Lieutenant Saavik in TWOK.

I thought Lockwood came off as older as well. However, I believe there's a scene in the episode where his personnel record is visible, and I think it includes a DOB, so that might make him definitively younger or older than Kirk. (Of course, since they hadn't really sorted out stardates by Turnabout Intruder, anything from the second pilot probably isn't helpful in that regard.)

Anyway, "Lieutenant Kirk" could have been a j.g. who was teaching as part of a well-worn prestige program before launching off on his first "deep space assignment" or something. There's probably a parallel to what we know about him and Finney.

 

[Noname Given]

Upperclassmen are warning Mitchell about an instructor who's known to be tough. This would imply that Mitchell is a lower classman and Kirk is a graduate who has returned to teach. Perhaps four or more years difference in their ages.

Or Starfleet instructors themselves grade on a curve based on the entire performance of the students in a class; so if you're in a class with Kirk you better know your stuff, or your grades and standing are really going to suffer.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Or Starfleet instructors themselves grade on a curve based on the entire performance of the students in a class; so if you're in a class with Kirk you better know your stuff, or your grades and standing are really going to suffer.

He was the Academy swimming instructor and water polo coach at the Archer Aquatic Center.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Here is a second pass at Kirk's career timeline, compressing it by five years to account for a 'meteoric' rise through the ranks. It still gives his career a little more 'breathing room' than the canonical version, making him 36 years old in 2264 when he assumes command of the Enterprise, 15 years after graduating starfleet academy. This version does mess up his association with Gary Mitchell- assuming no prior meeting between the two, they would have only known each other 11 years with this version. One thing I do like about this one is that it puts Ben Finney at the LCDR rank at about 15-16 years of service, about where an officer of that rank would find himself if he'd been passed over for promotion at least once. (Or sent to the 'bottom of the list', which I assume means essentially the same thing.) With 15 years of active service, Kirk has time to do all the things he has been said (or assumed) to do, and collect his long, distinguished list of commendations and medals. It also does recommend him as a superstar- achieving command of a starship at 15 years. In the U.S. Navy, command of an aircraft carrier comes at about the 24 year mark, after commanding an aviation squadron, an auxiliary ship (deep draft command experience), a tour as XO of a carrier, nuclear power school, and finally command of the carrier itself. Those officers invariably go on to flag rank, with very rare exceptions (The former CO of the Teddy Roosevelt being the most recent case)

2228- James Kirk is born in Iowa

2245- Kirk enters starfleet academy at the age of 17.

2249- Kirk graduates starfleet academy with honors, and is assigned to USS Republic with the rank of ensign rather than cadet for his graduation cadet cruise.

2250- ENS Kirk meritoriously promoted to Lieutenant J.G. and reassigned to USS Farragut under Captain Garrovick.

2251- LTJG Kirk promoted early to lieutenant.

2254- LT Kirk returns to Starfleet Academy for Command School and ancillary duty as an instructor. During his tenure, he meets Gary Mitchell and also gains some notoriety for cheating the “no-win” scenario.

2255- LT Kirk assigned as first officer of a scout class vessel.

2257- LT Kirk receives early promotion to Lieutenant Commander, assigned as first officer of USS Constitution.

2259- LCDR Kirk assumes command of USS Sacajawea.

2260- LCDR Kirk selected for early promotion to Commander. By this time, Kirk's rise through the ranks is considered meteoric, and he has been recognized as an officer on the fast track to starship command.

2262- CDR Kirk promoted to Captain, and assumes command of USS Lydia Sutherland, with Gary Mitchell as his first officer.

2263- USS Lydia Sutherland destroyed during the Ghioghe Incident. Most of her crew is saved; CAPT Kirk and First Officer Mitchell undergo extensive medical regeneration. CAPT Kirk faces a court of inquiry over the loss of his command, and is cleared of any wrongdoing.

2264: CAPT Kirk offered command of USS Enterprise.

2265: USS Enterprise begins a standard 5-year mission within the UFP Treaty Exploration Zone, and beyond. LCDR Gary Mitchell is lost during an attempt to probe beyond the galaxy's edge. At this point, Kirk has known Gary Mitchell for at least 11 years.

 

[MAGolding]

Here is yet another repeat ot my attempet at a chronology of Kirk's career. I assume that everything happens as simply as a similar to a 20th century nval officer's career as possible.

Kirk is a civilian in his early teens during the faminine and massacre at Tarsus IV:

COMPUTER: Working. Kodos the Executioner, summary. Governor of Tarsus Four twenty Earth years ago. Invoked martial law. Slaughtered fifty percent of population Earth colony, that planet. Burned body found when Earth forces arrived. No positive identification. Case closed.

SPOCK: He'd better. There were nine eye witnesses who survived the massacre, who'd actually seen Kodos with their own eyes. Jim Kirk was one of them. With the exception of Riley and Captain Kirk, every other eye witness is dead. And my library computer shows that wherever they were, on Earth, on a colony, or aboard ship, the Karidian Company of Players was somewhere near when they died.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/13.htm

Scripted dialog which was not filmed would have made Kirk a Starfleet Midshipman stationed on Tarsus IV at the time, and thus make KIrk about 40 years old in the episodes, but that was not filmed and contradicts Kirk's later established age.

James Kirk and Gary MItchell meet when they are both boys, before they enter Starfleet.

Star date 1313.1. We're now approaching Delta Vega. Course set for a standard orbit. This planet, completely uninhabited, is slightly smaller than Earth. Desolate, but rich in crystal and minerals. Kelso's task, transport down with a repair party, try to regenerate the main engines, save the ship. Our task, transport down a man I've known for fifteen years, and if we're successful, maroon him there.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/2.htm

It is my impression that they first met each other a considerable time before Gary entered Starfleet Academy, for reasons which will be explained later.

James Kirk Enters Starfleet Academy, probbly aged 17. During his first,year as a "plebe" he is bullied by upperclassman Finnegan and has a romance with Ruth. During the summer break Kirk may go on a voyage and be involved in the Anaxar Peace Mission, later being awarded the Palm leaf of the Axanar Peace Mission.

KIRK: I know the feeling very well. I had it at the Academy. An upper classman there. One practical joke after another, and always on me. My own personal devil. A guy by the name of Finnegan.
MCCOY: And you being the very serious young
KIRK: Serious? I'll make a confession, Bones. I was absolutely grim, which delighted Finnegan no end. He's the kind of guy to put a bowl of cold soup in your bed or a bucket of water propped on a half-open door. You never knew where he'd strike next. More tracks. Looks like

KIRK: (into communicator) McCoy, do you read me? Ruth. Ruth, how can it be you? How could you possibly be here? You haven't aged. It's been fifteen years.

FINNEGAN: Get up. Get up. Get up. Always fight fair, don't you? True officer and gentleman, you. You stupid underclassman. I've got the edge. I'm still twenty years old. Look at you. You're an old man.

FINNEGAN: I never answer questions from plebes, Jimmy boy.
KIRK: I'm not a plebe. This is today, fifteen years later. What are you doing here?

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/17.htm

So "Shore Leave should be about 15 years after Kirk's first year at Starfleet Academy, and thus when Kirk is about 32 or 33. If KIrk entered Starfleet Academy aged 17 to 22, he would have been aged 32 to 37 in "Shore Leave" 15 years later.

KIRK: Very well. But my first visit to Axanar was as a new fledged cadet on a peace mission.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/71.htm

COMPUTER: James T. Kirk, serial number SC937-0176CEC. Service rank, Captain. Position, Starship command. Current assignment, USS Enterprise. Commendations, Palm Leaf Of Axanar Peace Mission, Grankite Order of Tactics, Class of Excellence, Prantares Ribbon of Commendation, Classes first and second

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/15.htm

At Starfleet Academy, Kirk becomes friends with an instructor, Benjamin Finney. Finney names his daughter Jame after Kirk. It is my opinion that Jame is probably born & named while Kirk is at Starfleet Academy.

STONE: Let us begin with your relationship with Commander Finney. You knew him for a long time, didn't you?
KIRK: Yes. He was an instructor at the Academy when I was a midshipman, but that didn't stand in the way of our beginning a close friendship. His daughter Jamie, who was here last night, was named after me.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/15.htm

Kirk graduates and is commissioned an ensign, probably aged 21 or 22. He is assigned to the Starship Republic, under Captain Garrovik, and with Lt. Finney as a fellow officer.

STONE: It's common knowledge that something happened to your friendship.
KIRK: It's no secret. We were assigned to the same ship some years later. I relieved him on watch once and found a circuit open to the atomic matter piles that should've been closed. Another five minutes, it could have blown up the ship.
COMPUTER: Ship nomenclature. Specify.
KIRK: United Starship Republic, number 1371.

SHAW: With reference to Records Officer Finney, was there in his service record a reported disciplinary action for failure to close a circuit?
ENSIGN: Yes, ma'am.
SHAW: Was the charge in that instance based upon a log entry by the officer who relieved him?
ENSIGN: Yes, ma'am.
SHAW: And who was that officer?
ENSIGN: Ensign James T. Kirk.
SHAW: Louder, please, for the court.
ENSIGN: Ensign James T. Kirk.
SHAW: Now the Captain Kirk who sits in this courtroom?
ENSIGN: Yes, ma'am.

SHAW: You have just heard the testimony of your own personnel officer, that it was an action of the then Ensign Kirk, which placed an unerasable blot on the record of the then Lieutenant Finney. Psychologically, Doctor, is it possible that Lieutenant Finney blamed Kirk for the incident?

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/15.htm

During one 2nd season episode, Kirk testifies tha the is 34 years old, and despite some at the hearing desiring to prove that his memory is failing, nobody contradictions him.

COMPUTER: Working. Subject's physical age based on physiological profile, between sixty and seventy two. Aging rapidly.
KIRK: No, I'm thirty four. I'm thirty four years old.
STOCKER: The computer differs with you, Captain.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/40.htm

KIrk is larter promoted to lieutenant or to lieutenant junior grade and make shis first planetary survey.

SPOCK: Aside from that, you say it's a Garden of Eden?
KIRK: Or so it seemed to the brash young Lieutenant Kirk on his first planet survey.

KIRK: When I left there thirteen years ago, those villagers had barely learned to forge iron. Spock was shot with a flintlock. How many centuries between those two developments?

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/45.htm

So KIrk made his survey 13 years before "A Private LIttle War", and thus when he was about 21 years old. Not long after kIrk graduated and was commisisoned ensign.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/45.htm

Captain Garrovik and Lt. Kirk transfer from the Republic to the starship Farragutt sometime before the Tycho IV incident.

Captain Garrovik and half the crew of the Farragut are killed by the cloud vampire at Tycho IV.

KIRK: I suggest you look at the record tapes of past similar occurrences. You'll find the USS Farragut lists casualties eleven years ago from exactly the same impossible causes.

SPOCK: Precisely. Have you studied the incident involving the USS Farragut?
MCCOY: No. With all these deaths and injuries, I've only had a chance to scan the tapes. There are eight or ten hours of record tape there.
SPOCK: Fortunately, I read somewhat faster. In brief, Doctor, nearly half the crew and the captain were annihilated. The captain's name was Garrovick.
MCCOY: The same as our Ensign.
SPOCK: His father. Among the survivors was a young officer on his first deep-space assignment, James T. Kirk. And there is still more. I suggest you study this

MCCOY: Am I? I was speaking of Lieutenant James T. Kirk of the starship Farragut. Eleven years ago, you were the young officer at the phaser station when something attacked. According to the tapes, this young Lieutenant Kirk insisted upon blaming himself.
KIRK: Because I delayed in firing at it.

MCCOY: Captain Garrovick was very important to you, wasn't he, Jim?
KIRK: Yes. He was my commanding officer from the day I left the Academy. One of the finest men I ever knew. I could have killed that thing if I'd fired soon enough the first time.

KIRK: My report is on the tapes. As it attacked us eleven years ago, as I lost consciousness, I could feel the intelligence of the thing. I could sense it thinking, planning.

KIRK: If you hadn't delayed firing? No difference, Ensign. No weapon known would have made any difference. Then or eleven years ago. Report for duty, Ensign.

KIRK: Inform them that we are pursuing the creature to planet four of that system. That's the location of its attack on the USS Farragut eleven years ago.

So the attack on the Farragut was 11 years before "Obsession" in the 2nd season, and thus when Kirk was about 25 years old. KIrk served under Garrovik since Kirk left the Academy, so Garrovik should have been the captain of the Republic. This was part of Kirk's first deep space assignment, so the planetary survey should have been during that assignment.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/47.htm

Sometime after that incident, Lt. Kirk returns to Starfleet Academy as an instructor. KIrk teaches a oourse to first yer cadets one year. The next year, or in a later year, Gary Mitchell enters Starfleet Academy and takes the course taught by KIrk. KIrk and Mitchell become friends instead of mere acquaintances.

MITCHELL: Well, I'm getting a chance to read some of that longhair stuff you like. Hey man, I remember you back at the Academy. A stack of books with legs. The first thing I ever heard from an upperclassman was, watch out for Lieutenant Kirk. In his class, you either think or sink.
KIRK: I wasn't that bad, was I?
MITCHELL: If I hadn't aimed that little blonde lab technician at you
KIRK: You what? You planned that?
MITCHELL: Well, you wanted me to think, didn't you? I outlined her whole campaign for her.
KIRK: I almost married her!

DEHNER: I don't think so. I understand you least of all. Gary told me that you've been friends since he joined the service, that you asked for him aboard your first command.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/2.htm

And sometime later, Kirk had a second deep space assignement, and eventyally was rapidly promoted to capatain and assigned to command the Enterprise.

And there are many other possible outlines of Kirk's career, but in my opinion this one gives the most normal and natural (though with unusually rapid promotion) career for Kirk. So alternate career paths should all be more complex and unusual.

 

[Duncan MacLeod]

If we're posting old attempts at Kirk's career here was mine, originally written nearly 40 years ago and last rewritten while TNG was on the air. It includes some future ideas that obviously did not come to pass but this is how I would have done it.


2249 - Age 17 - With the backing of Commodore Mallory, James T. Kirk, second son of the late Commander George Kirk, enters Starfleet Academy at the youngest age allowed.

2253 - Age 21 - Kirk graduates from SFA, is commissioned an Ensign and posted to the USS Republic an older Baton Rouge class light cruiser commanded by Capt. Garrovick.

2254 - Age 22 - Republic is damaged and sent back to Earth for repairs Capt Garrovick is transferred to the USS Farragut Constitution class heavy cruiser whose commanding officer was killed on a mission, he takes several officers with him as crew replacements including Kirk. Later Kirk is promoted to Lt. jg and acts as Garrovick’s aide at the Axanar Peace Mission.

2255 - Age 23 - Farragut is attacked by the cloud creature at Tychos IV, half the crew, including Captain Garrovick, are killed, Kirk helps bring the crippled ship into port. Kirk is nominated to Command School and travels back to Earth to begin the curriculum.

2256 - Age 24 - Kirk is re-united with an old friend: Gary Mitchell, an upperclassman in the history class he teaches. Kirk beats the Kobayashi Maru scenario, he is awarded a commendation for ‘original thinking’ and promoted to full Lt. He also becomes involved with Carol Marcus at this time.

2257 - Age 25 - Kirk graduates from Command School with high honors, he is assigned as Navigation Officer aboard the USS El Dorado a Phardos class light cruiser commanded by Capt. Stone.

2259 - Age 27 - Kirk is promoted to Lt. Cmdr. and transferred to the heavy cruiser USS Constitution as Executive Officer under Capt. Rexar Vetra of Andor.

2260 - Age 28 - Kirk takes command after the Captain is killed during an engagement with a Klingon cruiser and 3 destroyers, he evades then re-engages crippling 2 of the destroyers, damaging the cruiser and forcing a Klingon withdrawal. He is awarded the Medal of Honor, Karagite Order of Heroism and a Starfleet Combat Command Star. Upon his return to Earth Kirk is posted to his first command the older Portsmith class light destroyer USS Ariel, he requests Lt. jg Gary Mitchell as navigator.

2261 - Age 29 – Kirk’s on again - off again romance with Carol Marcus results in a son. At Carol’s request Kirk distances himself from them.

2262 - Age 30 - Kirk is promoted to Commander and posted to the Hannibal class heavy frigate USS Lydia Sutherland, here he first meets the irascible Lt. Leonard McCoy MD.

2263 - Age 31 - Kirk and Lydia Sutherland protect the Arulia outpost from a Tholian swarm. Alone they hold on for 97 hours before reinforcements arrive. Kirk is awarded the Star of Valor and promoted to Captain.

2264 - Age 32 - Kirk is assigned to command the Constitution class Heavy Cruiser USS Enterprise, the handpicked successor of Fleet Captain Christopher Pike. Undertakes mission to the galaxy’s edge.

2265 - Age 33 – Kirk begins five-year mission of exploration aboard the Enterprise.

2270 - Age 38 – Following a truly spectacular five-year mission Kirk is advanced three grades to Rear Admiral and appointed Chief of Starfleet Operations over the heads of many more senior officers.

2272 - Age 40 – Kirk marries Vice Admiral Lori Cianna; it is a one-year contract that they do not renew.

2273 - Age 41 – The V’ger Crisis frees Kirk from what he has come to regard as a flag-rank prison; he resumes command of the rebuilt USS Enterprise with the temporary rank of Captain.

2278 - Age 46 – Upon completion of a second five-year mission Kirk reverts to his permanent grade of Rear Admiral and is posted as Dean of the Starfleet Tactical College.

2282 - Age 50 – Kirk defeats Khan Noonien Singh and Captain Kruge in the Genesis Affair at the cost of his son’s life, he then goes on to save Earth itself a second time in the Cetacean Incident giving new life to an extinct species. However he is reduced in rank to Captain for disobeying orders during the Genesis Affair and is posted to command the USS Enterprise.

2283 - Age 51 – While on independent patrol Kirk defeats a Klingon battleship near Chiadik IX as the Genesis War begins, Enterprise is damaged in the battle and undergoes almost four months of repairs.

2284 - Age 52 – Promoted to the temporary grade of Fleet Captain, Kirk is assigned to command the 271st Combat Squadron; his flagship is the Enterprise under Captain Hikaru Sulu. He defeats Capt.-Admiral Koloth’s Battle Group at Betelgeuse but later suffers a defeat himself against Capt.-Admiral Kumara’s Heavy Task Group, Enterprise is heavily damaged and three other ships in the squadron are destroyed while only one Klingon cruiser is destroyed and 4 ships damaged, but this is still better than anyone else has done against Kumara.

2285 - Age 53 – Promoted to Commodore (again a temporary rank) and given command of the 148th Star Flotilla, flagship the Decatur class light cruiser USS Vanguard under Captain Neville Irish, Kirk defeats Lt.-Admiral Kor at Jannil IV. In a second engagement against Kumara fought near Bellatrix the casualties are high but Kumara disengages when his port flank collapses. It is the first time he has been forced to disengage. Kirk is awarded the Starfleet Citation of Conspicuous Gallantry 1st Class.

2286 - Age 54 – Kirk takes command of the 43rd Battle Squadron; his flagship is once again the Enterprise now under Captain Vincent DeSalle. Kirk battles Admiral Kumara’s new Battle Group in a decisive engagement near Archon VII defeating him soundly in a fierce battle. Kirk is awarded the Procyon Order of St. Mark. Shortly after Kirk meets Doctor Anne Johannsen, the two are married after a whirlwind courtship, they continue to renew their contract and remain married for the rest of their lives. Their only child, Reed A. Kirk, is born seven months later.

2287 - Age 55 – Kirk’s squadron is reinforced and redesignated as the 2nd Expeditionary Squadron for Operation: Heart of Honor. Although the operation is a major success and brings the Klingons to the negotiating table there are many casualties including Captain DeSalle who is killed and Lt. Comdr. Saavik who is badly wounded. As peace is declared Kirk reverts to his permanent grade of Captain and resumes command of the Enterprise to continue his interrupted 3rd tour of duty as her captain.

2289 - Age 57 – Kirk uncovers the Cartwright/Chang conspiracy at the Khitomer conference. This action earns him both the Federation’s Golden Sun and the Klingon Empire’s Sword of Honor. The Enterprise is decommissioned due to age and battle damage and Kirk retires from Starfleet.

2290 - Age 58 – Bored with retirement Kirk returns to service with the rank of Commodore. He is posted as Special Federation Liaison to Chancellor Azetbur and the Klingon High Council. While there he comes to understand the common people of the Empire in ways he had never even imagined.

2291 - Age 59 – Promoted to Rear Admiral, Kirk is assigned to command the 47th Exploration Squadron, his flagship is Captain Hikaru Sulu’s USS Excelsior.

2294 - Age 62 – Kirk is assigned to command the 1st Star Fleet, the Federation Home Fleet that was established following the V’ger Crisis, with Vice Admiral’s rank, his flagship is the Excelsior class battleship USS Eagle, Captain Pavel Chekov commanding.

2304 - Age 72 – On special assignment with a covert Strike Fleet in Romulan Space, Kirk is to support the pro-Federation faction in the Romulan Civil War, brought back into commission for this assignment is the flagship USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Saavik.

2305 - Age 73 – Kirk and his Strike Fleet cover the exodus of the defeated pro-Federation faction as they escape to Nova Romula. The prototype Tal Shiar battleship Tomed attacks the refugees destroying or crippling seven ships before finally being driven off. Before the action is over the Enterprise is also destroyed but the crew is able to be recovered.

2306 - Age 74 – Kirk is assigned as Commander Starfleet – Quadrant 4.

2314 - Age 82 – Kirk is promoted to Admiral and is appointed Deputy Commanding Admiral.

2319 - Age 87 – Kirk finally retires from space.

2322 - Age 90 – Again bored with retirement Kirk accepts an appointment as Secretary of Starfleet, he brings Fleet Admiral Spock in as Commanding Admiral.

2335 - Age 103 – James T. Kirk dies of natural causes.

 

[Jedi Marso]

If we're posting old attempts at Kirk's career here was mine, originally written nearly 40 years ago and last rewritten while TNG was on the air. It includes some future ideas that obviously did not come to pass but this is how I would have done it.

~snip~

NICE!

Question: In your timeline, is he C.O. of the Lydia Sutherland? It looks like he probably is.

 

[Duncan MacLeod]

Yes, Kirk is commanding the Lydia Sutherland which is named for a starship captain during the Romulan War.

 

[Neopeius]

Yes, Kirk is commanding the Lydia Sutherland which is named for a starship captain during the Romulan War.

But Kirk's world of starship captains doesn't admit... *slap* Ow.

 

[Nightowl1701]

Factoring in how badly Starfleet was decimated in the 2256-57 Klingon War shown in DSC (while Kirk would have first been on the Farragut, then midshipman instructor at the Academy), all signs point (much like the Kelvinverse, ironically) to one hell of a battlefield promotion (Kirk's captain/XO is killed, he's the last bridge officer standing, and he single-handedly saves the ship and crew) that ends up sticking due to a massive lack of available command officers to fill the empty captain/first officer posts. Once Kirk is confirmed as captain, he calls up Mitchell to the first officer position.